Knotter for harvester-binders.



J. M. SIMPSON & J. E. WILKINSON.

KNOTTEB. FOR HARVBSTER BINDERS APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1911.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VEN TORS A TTORNE Y.

WITNESSES a. w M

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, p. c.

J. M. SIMPSON & J. E. WILKINSON.

KNOTTER FOR HARVESTER BINDERS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1911.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VENTOR.

' A TTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS cn. PHOTU-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

JOHN M. SIMPSON AND JOSEPH E. WILKINSON, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

KNOTTER FOR HARVESTER-ZBINDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed September 11, 1911. Serial No. 648,766. 7

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN M. SIMPSON, of thecity of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, and JosnPH E.WILKIN- SON, of the said city of Winnipeg, have jointly invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Knotters for Harvester-Binders of whichthe following is a specification.

Our object is to devise a simple, easilyconstructed, and effectiveknotter for harvester binders in which all shafts are horizontal andparallel and bevel gearing is dis pensed with. WVe attain our object bymeans of the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of part ofour improved knotter showing particularly the driving means. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection of the same. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of part of the knottingspindle and sleeve showin part of the actuating pulley in section. Fig.5 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the knotting spindleand sleeve. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the opposite end of theknotting spindle and sleeve. Fi 7 is a similar view showing a slightlydi Ferent position. Figs. 8 to 13 are end elevations of part of theknotting mechanism illustrating different steps in the formation of theknot,

Fig. 14 is a rear elevation of the knotting spindle and sleevesubstantially in the position shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 15 is a sideelevation of the cord holder- Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the same.Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the knotting spindle and sleeve showingparticularly the arrangement of the knife.

In the drawings, like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different figures. i

1 is the knotter shaft, which of course will be suitably supported andwhich carries the pulley 2 which is adapted as hereinafter described todrive the knotting mechanism. The knot-forming mechanism comprises aknotting spindle 3 and a sleeve 4 through which the spindle 3 passes.This sleeve is journaled in suitable bearings so that it is capable notonly of a rotary movement but also of an endwise movement. The spindleis also longitudinally movable within the sleeve but is held from rotarymovement relative thereto. A suitable connection is provided for thispurpose, by forming a slot 5 1n the spindle into which'project the pins6 screwed through the sleeve 4. One end of the spindle has a hook 7formed thereon adapted to cooperate with the end of the spindle to gripthe binder twine, as hereinafter described. On the sleeve 1 is suitablyformed or secured a curved knotter billS shaped substantially as shown.

In the formation of the-knot, the sleeve and spindlemust not only berotated at the proper time, but endwise movement-s, either separate orsimultaneous, must be imparted thereto at proper times. For the purposeof imparting these movements the following means are provided :Asegmental gear 10 1s formed within the rim of the pulley 2 and is ofsufficient length to impart a complete movement of rotation to thespindle and the sleeve through the medium of the pinion 11 with which itis adapted periodically to engage andwhich pinion is secured to thesleeve 4. To hold the sleeve from accidental rotation when it is notbeing positively driven, we provide the; cam'ring 12 formed on orsecured within the pulley 2 which is adapted to engage the flat surface13 formed on the hub of the pinion 11. A gap is formed in the cam ring12 opposite to and of the same length as the rack 10 sothat at thispoint the pinion 11 is left free to revolve. At such time as the spindleand sleeve are about to be rotated they are moved bodily toward theleft, relative to Fig. 2, to the position shown in that. figure, bymeans of the cam segment 14% which engages the inner face of the pinion10 and pushes the latter toward the left as the latter rides up itsinclined forward, end. 7

It will be noted particularly on reference to Fig. 5 that a disk15issecured to the end of the spindle?) and that the spindle is of suchlength that when the disk 15 lies against the hub ofthe pinion 11 thatthe hook 7 is pushed away from the adjacentend of. the sleeve-4L toenable the hook to engage a f- Near the end of this movement of rotationit becomes necessary to move the spindle a short distance to the rightindependent of the sleeve 4. For this purpose We provide the cam segment17 which engages the outer face of the disk 15 and thus pushes thespindle to the right. It will be noted that the edges of the disk arebeveled to facilitate the movement of I the disk through the medium ofthe various cam segments. After the spindle has thus been independentlymoved to the right, it becomes necessary to return it to its originalposition. vVhilethe spring'l6 may be sufficient for this purpose weprefer to provide the cam segment 18 which enters between thedisk l5 andthe hub of the pinion 11 and returns the disk to its normal position.Subsequently the spindle and sleeve must be returned simultaneously totheir normal position at their limit of movement to the right. This isaccomplished by means of the cam segment 19 which engages the outer sideof the disk 15 and pushes it and the spindle to the right asdesired andnecessarily, also thesleeve 4:. This sequence of movements is repeatedof course for every revolution of the knotter shaft 1.

The cord holding mechanism with which the knotting mechanism cooperatesis preferably arranged as follows :Behind the knot-forming ends of theknotting spindle and sleeve a cord-holding disk 20 is located. This diskis journaled on a frame 21 so that the disk rotates transversely to thelead of the twine and parallel to the axis of the knotting spindle andsleeve. This frame 21 is hinged at 22 on the main frame of the device sothat it may swing to and from the knotting spindle and sleeve. A coil.spring 23 is secured at one end to the main frame of the device and atthe other to the frame 21 which tends to swing the knotting disk awayfrom the knotting spindle and sleeve. This movement is, however, limitedby the stop 2t formed as a stationary bracket with which the frame 21may engage. The twine is held by being jammed between the disk, and aplate 25 doubled over the edge of the disk, the twine lying in thenotches being necessarily carried between the parts of this plate whenthe disk is rotated. A stepwise movement of rotation is given to thedisk 20 by means of a cam arm 36 secured to the knotter shaft 1,andpreferably provided at its end with a roller 37 to reduce friction. I

The twine cutting mechanism is preferably arranged as follows: A slide28 is rigidly connected with a collar 29 loose on the sleeve 4. Thisslide is limited in its movement to the left by having a square shoulder30 formed near the right hand end of it, which shoulder engages or comesagainst the right hand face of the bearing 32 supporting the right handend of the time the knotter sleeve and spindle. A coil spring 31 tendsto press this collar 29 and the slide 28 to the left, one end bearingagainst the collar and the other against the bearing bracket 32. Theslide 28 passes through a suitable slot in the bearing bracket andcarries the knife 3st, which is preferably curved to partly embrace thesleeve 4:, and is also given a shearing edge, as shown in. Fig. 3. Theouter end of the slide 28 is preferably provided with the wings 35 whichpartly embrace the sleeve at and serve to steady the slide and also tostrip the cord from the sleeve. The knife is moved to the right to cutthe twine through the medium of the cam arm 26 secured to the knottershaft 1, and having its end shaped to engage and push to the right aprojection of the slide 28, preferably formed as an anti-friction roller27.

The mode of operation of this knotter .is as follows :At thecommencement of the sequence of operations the spindle and sleeve are attheir limit of possible movement to the right the hook 7 lying closeagainst the end of the spindle The tn ine has been carried forward bythe needle in the usual way, and by the rotation of the disk 20 has beencaught and held. The twine lies over the sleeve 3, as indicated in Fig.6, and after passing around the sheaf, is carried forward by the needleand again led over the sleeve to be engaged by the cord holder. Thus, atthe COlllHlQllCGlllOlli; of the knot-forming movements two strands oftwine lie across the sleeve -l. The sleeve now begins to rotate, and atthe same time through the action of the cam segment 1t, both it and thespindle within it are moved. to the left. This causes the bill 8 tooverlie the twine, as shown in Fig. 7. The rotary movement continues andthe strands of twine lying over the front of the sleeve slip over theend of the sleeve and spindle, as indicated in Figs. 8 and l i, and arecarried around and behind the two strands leading from the cord-holder.The movement is continued until the parts are in the position shown inFig. 10, at which spindle 3 is moved to the right to form a spacebetween itself and the end of the sleeve 4-. Into this space the strandsof twine leading to the cord-holder drop and are caught and held by thehook. The strands are now out by knife 3% between the disk 20 and theend of the spindle and the strands lapping around the end of the sleeveare by the endwise movement of discharge sheath 35 (to which the knife3a is attached) forced over and off the end of the sleeve, allowing themto slip down as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 and complete the formation ofthe knot, the discharge of the bound sheaf drawing the out ends of twineout from under the hook 7 endwise.

By this time a complete rotation of the sleeve and spindle has takenplace and the parts have returned to their initial position. At thistime the spindle and sleeve and all parts attached to and subject to thesame movement are pushed to the right to their normal position by thecam 19 provided for that purpose.

From the above description it will be seen that we have devised aknotter in which, as set out in the preamble to the specification, allthe shafts may be horizontal and parallel and bevel gearing dispensedwith. The use of the ordinary form of bill hook is also avoided.

What we claim as our invention is 1. In a knotter the combination of aknotting spindle arranged transversely to the lead of the twine; a hookon the end of the spindle; a rotatable longitudinally movable sleeve inwhich the spindle is longitudinally movable and in regard to which it isrelatively non-rotatable, said hook cooperating with the end of thespindle to grip the twine; a bill carried by the sleeve; and meanssuitably coordinated for rotating the sleeve and spindle and for slidingthem endwise either separately or simultaneously.

2. In a knotter the combination of a knotting spindle arrangedtransversely to the lead of the twine; a hook on the end of the spindle;a rotatable longitudinally movable sleeve in which the spindle islongitudinally movable and in regard to which it is relativelynon-rotatable, said hook 00,- operating with the end of the spindle togrip the twine; a bill carried by the sleeve; means suitably coordinatedfor rotating the sleeve and spindle and for sliding them endwise eitherseparately or simultaneously; a cord cutter slidable longitudinally ofsaid sleeve; and means for actuating said cutter to cut the twine.

8. In a knotter the combination of a knotting spindle arrangedtransversely to the lead of the twine; a hook on the end of the spindle;a rotatable longitudinally movable sleeve in which the spindle islongitudinally movable and in regard to which it is relativelynon-rotatable said hook 00- operating with the end of the spindle togrip the twine; a bill carried by the sleeve; means suitably coordinatedfor rotating the sleeve and spindle, and for sliding them endwise eitherseparately or simultaneously; a notched cord-holding disk journaledbehind the knotter bill on an axis parallel to the lead of the cord; acooperating plate bent over the edge of the disk; and means forimparting a stepwise movement of rotation to said disk.

1. In a knotter the combination of a notched cord-holding disk; a platecooperating therewith bent over the edge of the disk; a knotter shaft;and an arm carried thereby adapted to engage the notches of the disk toimpart a step by step movement of rotation tothe latter.

5. In a knotter the combination of a knotting spindle arrangedtransversely of the lead of the twine; a hook on the end of the spindle;a rotatable longitudinally movable sleeve in which the spindle islongitudinally movable and in regard to which it is relativelynon-rotatable, said hook co operating with the end of the spindle togrip the twine; a bill carried by the sleeve adjacent the hook; a pinionsecured to the opposite end of the sleeve; a disk secured to the end ofthe spindle adjacent the pinion so that when the hook is in engagementwith the sleeve endthe disk is spaced from the pinion; a. pulleycarrying a segmental gear adapted to drive the pinion; means for holdingthe pinion from rotation when it is not in mesh with the gear; and camscarried by. the pulley adapted to engage the disk and pinion to slide.the spindle and sleeve endwise either separately or simultaneously.

' innipeg this 26th day of August 1911.

JOHN M. SIMPSON. JOSEPH E. WILKINSON.

Signed in the presence of J. J. MCBRIDE, W. E. INGERSOLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, D. C.

